Firefly Lake

Before you enter, you may bring 3 things with you. These may include companions, accessories, and the like. Please list them at the start of your thread. There is great risk involved to all that you bring along as well as your chosen character, though you may find there will also be equally great benefit.

Any rewards gained in your adventure will be account bound and therefore not tradeable unless simply gems. A handful of the benefits will be for the character you bring only.

Your choice in character, companion, and accessory will possibly impact your story. Different attributes and aspects of your character, companion, and accessory will provide risks or benefits depending on the various encounters, and where one wolf would fail a situation another wolf might pass it with ease.

As the story progresses, encounters will become riskier though you can choose to abandon the adventure at any time. If you choose to remain, you do so understanding the risks!



Coming to this area, the sun rests low in the horizon and many fireflies are just starting to light the sky in its stead. There is nothing inherently spooky about these scenes, however the complete lack of the usual chittering of birds and rummaging of creatures puts even the most steadfast of visitors on edge. The water calls to you, reflecting the last luminescent rays of the golden sun as it sinks into the horizon. It seems as if every step is blocked off by a wall of fireflies which seem unpassable.

How do you attempt to get through?

• Barge your way through
  
• Eat the fireflies
  
• Leave
  

The fading light all but concealed the dark-furred wolf as he lumbered his way through the forest toward the lake. Gold and orange sunset hues seemed to disappear in the black void of his eyes as he gazed out over the placid lake, tracing the gentle ripples in its mirror-like surface. He eyed the sea of fireflies that hovered like tiny lanterns just above the water's surface, their bioluminescent butts seeming to sparkle like stars over the darkening depths of the lake. Alastor's ears flicked to a fro, trying to catch a sound beyond his own footsteps on the grass—but the world was entirely silent. Fear was not an emotion the dire wolf possessed, but caution certainly was. The entire scene seemed too... peaceful. He remained on guard, but his eternal smile lingered on his lips. Alastor wandered closer towards the gentle lapping water on the lake's shore, but the swarms of fireflies seemed to want to hinder his progress. A growl building in his throat, Alastor pressed on, his large body pushing past the insignificant little insects. Although he appreciated them for the light they provided him, he'd be damned if he was to be impeded by creatures smaller than his littlest toe.

Choice: Barge through

"Speech" — Thoughts

Firefly Lake

From this point on, you can exit at any point, even if the option is not listed! If leaving is listed as a choice, then you may only ATTEMPT to exit!

You push with all your might, but the fireflies hold fast. As you fling yourself through, they part, sending you tumbling towards the waters. You go to catch yourself, spraining your front left leg! As you finally make your way through the mass of fireflies and towards the water, you see a small bridge of strange, floating crystals leading through the middle of the lake to a… is that a downwards staircase into the lake? Those stones look a little slippery.


How do you attempt to get through?

• Use the bridge
  
• Swim
  
• Jump over the gap
  

Those damned bugs were insistent little pests, that was for sure. Somehow they came together to form an insectoid wall, blocking even his might from getting through. Alastor bared his teeth in a silent snarl as he pushed and pushed and pushed until suddenly there was no more wall. The dark brute gasped and tried to catch himself, grunting in pain when he landed on his front left paw wrong, a twinge of pain almost making him yelp out loud. Teeth grit and jaws clenched to prevent showing any signs of injury; he would never permit himself to show any signs of weakness. Still growling at the swarm of fireflies, Alastor stepped closer to the darkening water—then froze to stare at the floating crystal path in the water's surface. Black eyes narrowed, studying the unnatural path with growing suspicion. He paused, turning to look back the way he came, and debated with himself. Should he turn back? Everything about this place was setting off alarm bells in his head—but something in his instincts was pulling him forward toward the water.

By now, Alastor's smile was gone, an unnatural characteristic of the usually jovial demon, replaced by furrowed brow and pursed lips. Something was not right about this situation. But did he investigate further, or did he give up and return home? Most peculiar... he thought as he lifted a trepidatious paw, letting it hover in the air for a beat, and then set it down on the crystalline bridge. He stared at the crystal pathway like it were an imminent threat, waiting for something to happen. When nothing immediately did, Alastor placed a second paw, then another and another until he was standing on the bridge. Very slowly, very carefully so as not to hurt his leg further, he began to make his way across the bridge toward... were those stairs? In the lake? What the hell...?

Choice: Use the bridge

"Speech" — Thoughts

Firefly Lake

You walk gingerly across the steps. Water just barely flows over the surface, making them quite slick. One wrong pawstep and OOF! You slide into the water, cutting your front right shoulder on the edge of the stair as you slide down. Afterwards, you are able to swim to the staircase.

Down the Rabbit(?) Hole

You step down the finely chiseled stairs which seem to be made of thin sheets of crystal, showing the water below as fish swim beneath your very paws. As you go lower, the fish swim beside, then above you until you are slowly immersed into a dark, watery chamber. When you come off the stairs, you find you are standing on solid ground, though far above you can still see the surface of the water. Light from above shimmers and refracts into tiny rainbows across the ground. The only place to go now is deeper into the cavern which narrows and darkens. The cavern grows quite steep and your eyes have not fully adjusted to the darkness. One should be careful as they descend into the depths.

How do you attempt to get through?

• Slow and steady wins the race
  
• Mad dash
  

"Oh fu-!" Alastor's cry of profanity was cut abruptly short as the dire wolf went tumbling into the cold lake, his shoulder catching the edge of the mystical bridge in the process. His injury stung, but the masochistic wolf felt a surge of adrenaline in response to the pain as opposed to deterrence. The cold water helped wash away the blood from his black fur while he paddled toward the stairs, hoisting himself back up and shaking himself as dry as he could get. Gotta be more careful from now on... he pondered as he eyed the stairs down under the lake with caution. Fortunately, having grown up in the cave systems the Mirovis pack called their home, navigating treacherous terrain like this was nothing new to him. Alastor knew that forethought and care were the way forward. With this in mind, the red-brindled wolf took each step a minute at a time, pausing every few steps to peer back and up around in awe as he descended beneath the water. It was impressive—magical, even—and despite the stinging from the laceration on his shoulder, he wanted to see more. Lurid had tasked him with exploration and recon, and he intended to do just that.

Waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dimming light, Alastor began to use his paws to feel for the edge of the stairs, then slowly gliding them down until they hit another solid surface before he put his weight forward in a full step. He made sure to always step with pad instead of claw, knowing he had far better grip this way. And so he began his descent down into... the lake, he supposed. What more would he find down there? He was about to find out...

Choice: Slow and steady

"Speech" — Thoughts

Down the Rabbit(?) Hole

You slowly descend down into the depths of the cave. As you walk, you feel a small notch in the wall. And another. And another! In each, sets a tiny gem. By the end of the tunnel, you have a nice handful of gems! You'll have to count them later!

Now, the cavern levels out, but is still tricky to navigate. You’re sure you hear shuffling ahead, but can't see anything to match the noise. What do you do? This is open ended! Respond as your character would, but only to the point to where you ATTEMPT something! No cheating!

What was this? A hidden gemstone set into small alcove along the staircase! Alastor paused his descent, rolling the tiny gem between his paws for a moment, then he found another, and another! Alastor's grin widened with each gem he found, collecting each one as he went until he had reached the bottom. Left standing in the dark cavern, the brindled wolf tried to peer around to gain his bearings, but was disturbed by a shuffling sound dead ahead. Alastor's head snapped in the direction of the noise, eyes locked on nothing in particular, ears standing erect on his head and perked forward to catch any other sounds. There it was again! Some sort of scuffle of something against the stone floor. All of his senses kicked into high alert, the wolf's ears pinning back to his head as he bared his fangs in a silent snarl, still straining his ears to try and identify what he was hearing. He was not about to be caught off guard if it turned out to be a threat, but he'd already come this far—retreating seemed so cowardly to do now. Heart beating faster to rush adrenaline to his muscles, Alastor took a single slow step toward the sound, body wound tight like a spring, ready to burst into either attempt a pounce or a dodge. The thought of what sort of creature could dwell within a hidden underwater cave did put him on edge, but did not deter him from trying to proceed further. "Who's there? I can hear you!" he barked into the darkness, praying that he wasn't making a mistake.

"Speech" — Thoughts

Down the Rabbit(?) Hole

You call out into the darkness. You are ready to fight anything in your path. This thing, however, does not stay in your path for long. With a final shuffle, it falls silent for only a few seconds before a rat with glowing eyes lunges at you. You perhaps go to react, or maybe you freeze in fear, but before the rat even makes it to you, it vanishes into seemingly nothing. Perhaps this is a warning to go back...

Sp̶͙̆͗̚̕ooky Cavȩ̴̧̩̖̱͔̈͑̾̅͂̊͝ͅ

The main cavern opens up to a large area full of stalagmites and stalactites. Your eyes adjust (if you have fireflies, their light dies out) allowing you to see just how vast this underground expanse is. Water trickles through the center of the cavern running from the wall near you and creating a small river cutting through the room all the way to the end. It seems clean, but there is no telling what lurks in the depths.

How will you navigate this room?

• Carefully around the stalagmites.
  
• Swim the river
  

While you're here... there's that water...

Do you take a sip?

• Sip Sip
  
• No sippy
  

Alastor blinked in surprise when he saw a large rodent with glowing eyes lunge out at him from the darkness, stumbling backward on reflex to try and avoid the attack, but when he blinked again, the rat was gone. Not just out of sight. Gone. The man took a few fast, shallow breaths to steady himself as he peered around the empty cavern in shock. Had that all been a figment of his demented mind? He'd never been prone to hallucinations before, but that... That had felt so real... His stomach twisted as he followed the way forward into a larger underground chamber. Black eyes traced the length and breadth of the room, surveying its many jagged stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the clear stream cutting the chamber in twain. He approached the water slowly, still gazing around, guard up and nerves tensed. This place was not natural; nothing about this situation felt right. He peered into the flowing water, watching his own reflection ripple and sway while he tried to make up his mind on his next course of action.

Alastor glanced back at the way he had come—back towards the stairs and to Boreas beyond—then back at the deepening cave system ahead of him. He could still turn back. No one would ever know. There would be no shame in leaving the uncharted caves alone, and who knew how much harder it would be to leave if he proceeded? But Alastor was nothing if not insane. He sniffed cautiously at the water, then took a taste. Peering back up at the spears of rock overhead as he drank, he decided the water was more likely to be kind to him than those were. All right, here we go...! He took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself, then jumped into the water like a pup on a summer's day, intent on swimming to the other side.

Choices: Swim the river | Sippy sippy

"Speech" — Thoughts

Sp̶͙̆͗̚̕ooky Cavȩ̴̧̩̖̱͔̈͑̾̅͂̊͝ͅ

The water looks nice and you take a sip! It's cool and refreshing and you feel as if some of your sprain doesn't hurt anymore.

Swimming is hard! The water is cold and it causes your paws to numb. When you crawl out of the water, you realize your paws are bleeding from numerous small cuts and scrapes.

You eventually clear your way into the next room...

Crȩ̸̱̞̈́͗̆̾̀̑̈̇vice S̵̡̥͉͌͗̿͋̾̓̀̍h̴̢̆͛̉͗̏̎̇́uffle

You cross into the next room and the passages just keep getting smaller and smaller! Finally, the passage forks into one that is very small, but stable-looking. The other is large and spacious but appears to be much more treacherous.

How will you navigate this room?

• Big Tunnel
  
• Small Tunnel
  

Alastor was pleased to discover the dull throbbing pain in his paw subsided with each lap of the water until the sprain had become little more than a fading memory. He flexed his paw, marveling for a moment before continuing his swim across the water. Despite the numbness in his feet, he reached the other side, only to find he was leaving bloody paw prints in his wake. Muttering several curses under his breath, he tried to lap the blood away to subside it, but pressed on. To his dismay, the only tunnel forward seemed to grow smaller and smaller until he had to duck his head and crouch to continue. A dire wolf was not meant for spelunking, it turned out. Fortunately, he found a fork in the road, sparing him from the increasingly tight corridor he was in. Although the way looked more risky, it couldn't have been riskier than chancing getting stuck somewhere he couldn't get out of. Taking a breath to steel his nerves and praying to whatever gods might have existed that this cave didn't become his tomb, he turned down the larger tunnel. It was far too late to turn back now. The only way out was forward.

Choice: Big tunnel

"Speech" — Thoughts

Crȩ̸̱̞̈́͗̆̾̀̑̈̇vice S̵̡̥͉͌͗̿͋̾̓̀̍h̴̢̆͛̉͗̏̎̇́uffle

The large but steep tunnel twists and turns. You find yourself slipping, lost, and totally out of breath. At one drop, you miss your step and find yourself waking some time later at the bottom of the pit. Your face hurts immensely around your left eye and blood blocks your vision. Whatever happened is sure to leave a scar. By the time you find the exit, you've managed to blink away most of the blood, though your face still burns.

Ç̸̭̩̻͔͖̱̥̉̚ŕ̶̨̛͙͍͓̲̣͕̎̃̾̎̄̑̐̏̔͆͝͠ȳ̸̡̼͉̙̻̘͚͕̘̿̌stall̴̞̪̀͋̎̏̂̄̔́̈́̀̆͐̕͝ĩ̷̛͎̦͉̼̤͇̏͠në̸̻̗̣̏ D̴͔̲̲̫̭̤̲͌̑̅͗̔̐̇̒̾͐͌͝͝epths

The tunnel leads you into a vast room where pinholes of light shine down from the ceiling and down onto a sea of sharp but enchanting crystals below. The place is as breathtaking as it is lethal. You feel as though if you don’t turn back now, you will not be able to leave the tunnel the same as you came. You take a deep breath and decide to descend the glittering slopes. At your feet, there are surprisingly soft mosses with many microflora sprouting up between the rugged crystals and fireflies loom lazily in the air. Somewhere in the distance, a crystal from the ceiling falls like a dagger into the ground below. You do not see where it lands, but it shatters with enough ferocity to be felt in your paws.

How do you navigate this risky wonderland?

• Left, towards the crashing noise!
  
• Right, away from the crashing noise!
  
• Over the giant crystals!
  

What had begun as such a promising adventure was fast becoming a nightmare. At least, that was what Alastor thought as he shook his head free of the ringing in his ears only to discover himself sprawled out at the bottom of a dark pit. He could see the ledge he had fallen from just overhead, but had no idea what had gone wrong to end with him down here. A throbbing pain in his head followed by red in his left-side vision. A paw to his head, and yep, that was blood. A jagged cut ran vertically across his eye, spilling blood into his vision that he desperately tried to blink and rub away between growls of frustration. How could he have been so clumsy?! Well, it still beat the hell out of getting stuck in a tunnel and starving to death, he supposed. Still, this one was going to scar...

Climbing his way back up, Alastor wandered further down the tunnels, wondering why he had ever even thought this adventure would be a good idea. It was literally a hellish cave that shouldn't exist beneath a lake. What the hell had he been thinking? Alastor's self deprecating thoughts came to an abrupt end when he staggered his way into a massive cavern filled with crystals reflecting rays of light streaming from above. He stared slack-jawed at the sight, taking in his environment. Never before had he ever encountered anything like this, and he silently wondered if any of this was real, or just some fever dream. As he meandered through the crystal cave, he saw one of the dangerous shards fall from the ceiling with a loud clatter. His eyes peered back up at the ceiling, wondering just how many of them were loose enough to become dislodged like that, then decided to go investigate the fallen crystal. This might be his only chance to see something this wonderful and strange in person, and he had come this far. No turning back now.

Choice: Left, towards the crashing noise

"Speech" — Thoughts

Ç̸̭̩̻͔͖̱̥̉̚ŕ̶̨̛͙͍͓̲̣͕̎̃̾̎̄̑̐̏̔͆͝͠ȳ̸̡̼͉̙̻̘͚͕̘̿̌stall̴̞̪̀͋̎̏̂̄̔́̈́̀̆͐̕͝ĩ̷̛͎̦͉̼̤͇̏͠në̸̻̗̣̏ D̴͔̲̲̫̭̤̲͌̑̅͗̔̐̇̒̾͐͌͝͝epths

You head towards the crashing- what’s the chance a crystal falls in the same place twice, right? Not only that, but as you work your way to the crash site, the fall cleared many of the fallen crystals and you’re able to pick up a few shards on your way! Maybe this will make a nice accessory for fighting later.

Kì̶̦̹͔̠͇͂̄̀ng Fire̴̢̡̝̹̭͚̲̫͔̔fly Guy

You enter the next room. It is small and curved like the inside of a geode. All around, fireflies buzz, lighting the room with a soft ambient glow that resonates within the smaller shards which dot the walls like a mosaic. In the center of the room, crystals grow up into a large throne and upon that throne sits a humanoid figure cloaked in a rough robe. Its eyes glitter and dance, and as it speaks it is as if many voices speak in unison from all around the room.

“You have entered my realm and come to see me with your own mortal eyes,” it says. The figure leans forward as if intrigued, you feel as if many eyes watch your every move. Behind you, a wall of fireflies block your path. “I can let you go, perhaps, if you give me something instead.”

Fireflies buzz around you angrily, throwing themselves into your pelt. A few buzz to the cloaked figure and drift into its hood before the whole body lights up angrily, “You are a true monster, wolf! Your crimes must be punished! I demand… your fertility for your payment! Or do you think you deserve to be free?”

How do you navigate this risky wonderland?

• Offer your fertility
  
• Offer something else (list in post)
  
• Negotiate to keep everything
  
• Attempt to flee